For the Love of Peanut Butter
Today, a peanut butter primer from Jules, because as she and I agree, a day without peanut butter is a day without joy:
I LOVE peanut butter. I mean, really, really love it. I remember joking to my husband when I was pregnant for the first time that if our son had a peanut allergy, we might have to house him elsewhere. I eat peanut butter with sweet things, savory things, salty things...fish, chocolate, noodles, and most often, off a big kitchen spoon right out of the jar.
Though peanut butter is high in fat, it's also packed full of nutrients. Peanuts are full of monounsaturated fat, which can help lower total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol, plus raise HDL (good) cholesterol. The end result may be a decrease in the risk of coronary heart disease. Peanuts also are a great source of:
However, there is one caveat to all of this: the all natural peanut butter is the one you must eat for the most benefits. Now, admittedly I’m not typically "all natural" obsessed, but in this case, I am a convert. In an attempt to reduce processed foods and sugars from my diet, I bought Trader Joe’s crunchy salted all natural peanut butter to replace my favorite, chunky, super fabulous other brand. And I must say that I was turned off when I opened the jar to see a layer of oil on the top (by the way, don't dump the oil -- it will lead to crumbly peanut butter within a few days).
However, I gave it a good stir, loaded up my favorite spoon, and dove in. And HOLY PEANUT BUTTER. It was what peanut butter should taste like: real peanuts. And, I needed to eat less of it to satisfy my salty peanut-y craving. And, when I turned the jars over to compare ingredients, it affirmed that I was making the right decision. My new natural peanut butter has two measly (but amazing) ingredients: peanuts and salt. The other brand is chock full of preservatives and tons of sugar and included about twenty ingredients that I could not pronounce.
Bottom line: If you are used to classic (i.e., not all natural) peanut butter brands, you will need to find the natural brand that suits your tastes, because surprisingly, the tastes do vary. But in my opinion, all are delicious and every little spoonful packs a nutritional punch.
Are you as obsessed with peanut butter as we are? What's your favorite all natural brand? Feel free to comment in below and share.
Image credit: Wikipedia
Comments
Jon, Laurel, and I are OBSESSED with the honey roasted peanut butter from Whole Foods. It's fresh packed, not in the regular jarred section. And no oily layer on top!
Posted by: Christine Koh - Editor | March 14, 2010 1:05 PM | Reply to this comment
Mmmmmm. I have always liked peanut butter. As a child, my mom could not keep me out of the pb. She has pictures of me in the bathtub with pb all over myself. haha
I tried the Smuckers natural pb and could not get used to all of the oil so I have been using the Jif all natural. It's probably not as healthy as the Smuckers (I'm guessing) but I'm working on it. Maybe I should try the Trader Joe's one.
Posted by: Karen | March 14, 2010 4:51 PM | Reply to this comment
I would eat an entire jar of Whole Foods' 365 creamy peanut butter. Giant jar: $3.69. Two ingredients: peanuts, salt. Not nearly as much mixing involved as the fresh-packed stuff. Worth every minute of it, though. InSANE with fluff on whole wheat.
Posted by: Sarah | March 14, 2010 6:02 PM | Reply to this comment
Well, for me 'a day without peanut butter' is a day without going into anaphylactic shock. ;) I know it is a wonderfully All-American food, but I'll happily let you all eat my lifetime quota on one little condition - you don't eat it around me!
Posted by: Susan Bingham | March 14, 2010 7:26 PM | Reply to this comment
As a former pb-aholic, who *did* end up with a son with a severe peanut allergy (also dairy and egg - 2 of my other addictions), I've learned to live without it. A fantastic substitute we've found is soy nut butter. At first, it definitely was "un-pb", but it has a lovely roasty, nutty flavour and our whole family, and even some of our friends are converts. Try it in recipes and see if you can tell the difference, I dare ya!
Posted by: tracyp | March 15, 2010 11:08 AM | Reply to this comment
A nutritionist recently gave me a fantastic tip... (mind you, I'm trying it for the first time today) keep your natural peanut butter upside down and in the refrigerator. It's less oily in the cold temperature and any residual oil will rise to the bottom of the container and will mix in when you flip it to serve.
Posted by: Candice Dowling | March 15, 2010 8:52 PM | Reply to this comment
I am insanely addicted to PB, and even when dieting, I have to shut my eyes to the label and just dive in. I never realized it was such a good source for niacin. I'll definitely be diving into a PB&J after work today. :)
Posted by: Cooley | March 16, 2010 11:55 AM | Reply to this comment
I too love, love PB! I can't understand why anyone would eat anything other than natural. That other stuff isn't even PB in my mind. It's like some overly sweet, waxy substitue.
Anyway, my all time favorite is Teddie Old Fashioned PB. Soooo good and made locally too!
Posted by: joanna | March 16, 2010 2:38 PM | Reply to this comment
i'm an addict. in college ate it from a spoon, and still do. my roommates claimed I chewed in my sleep, and was probably dreaming of the stuff. didn't help I was a lightweight rower, working out like crazy and cutting weight at same time. wrote about my sons first encounter with the magic goo here: http://dadtoday.blogspot.com/2008/02/pb-meets-j.html
Posted by: Stefan @dadtoday.com | March 20, 2010 11:35 AM | Reply to this comment